NHIF working miracles for aging Kenyans

Richard Tombo, 85 and his wife Caren Ajwang' aged 80 who are beneficiaries of NHIF at their home in Kendubay, Homabay County. [Denish Ochieng/ Standard]

In summary

The National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) is regulated by the Health Insurance Act (1998), which introduced the mandatory health insurance and regulates the supplementary health insurance. The NHIF carries out the obligatory health insurance in the country.

NHIF target is for all Kenyans to have access to the new package before 2022.

Every morning, 85-year-old Richard Tombo and his wife Karen Ajwang', 80, crawl out of their bed to ensure a small rectangular card is safe in their bedroom drawer.

They cannot afford to lose their National Hospital Insurance Fund card.

"This card means a lot to us. It is our saviour. We would be long dead were it not for it. It is our future," says Tombo.

Struggling with terminal illness and old age, the couple expresses its sense of security for being covered by the National Hospital Insurance Fund in the past five years.

Surrounded by many grandchildren, they smile in the hope that they will live to see many more years and enjoy their sunset days in good health.

They have been married for 63 years with ten children, several grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

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Ajwang' recalls the day she was diagnosed with Asthma 20 years ago and later duodenal ulcers and hypertension. The worst occurred when acute stroke affected her left side of the brain. “Sometimes we could not afford huge bills especially when admitted after an asthma attack, I could only buy painkillers which were never effective,” says Ajwang.

Interjecting, Tombo recalls how he struggled to fend for his family and foot hospital bills for his sick wife. He would also be diagnosed with hypertension five years after his Ajwang’s health weakened.

“I could not move, I was desperate that I couldn’t foot the bills. I was very sick. Fortunately my second born son intervened,” he recalls.

The last thing he ever wished for was to totally depend on his children to provide him with basic needs.